5
MELIANTHA
“I can’t believe we’re going to the Winter Court. I bet it’s going to be amazing for you to get away from here for the first time in five years,” Elissa says excitedly. She pauses to look at the clothes I’m wearing and shakes her head. “You know the king and queen are not going to approve of you wearing that. I bet they won’t let you leave the palace.”
They’ll have no choice, I think to myself. I make my own decisions now. I shrug my shoulders and turn back to continue my packing. I can hear Elissa shift behind me, but then she starts to sing and jump around my room excitedly. Her blond curls bounce up and down as she dances, and I envy her carefree attitude. I remember when I used to be like that.
Elissa is my age of twenty-five and we have been close friends since birth.
